Baseball: Hughes leads Falcons to 5-1 win over Panthers at Coolray

LAWRENCEVILLE -- Like every other baseball player in northeast Georgia, Jonathan Hughes has battled the stop-start rhythm of a so-far wintry 2015 baseball season.

On Friday, Hughes looked like a pitcher in mid-spring form, however -- nevermind that it was just his second start a full three weeks into the campaign -- as the senior kept Jackson County's offense in check en route to a 5-1 win for the Falcons at the Gwinnett Braves' Coolray Field (part of the High School Showcase series).

"I've just kept working; you have to keep working no matter what -- that's what separates the men from the boys," said Hughes, who scattered five hits, struck out eight Panthers batters and allowed just one walk over 6 innings work. "We've been able to practice indoors, so I haven't slacked off."

After allowing two hits in the first inning, the Georgia Tech-bound pitcher cruised much of the rest of the way -- though the Panthers did threaten late. Jackson County pushed a run across in the fifth on singles from Max Wilson and Travis Vickers. Caleb Matthews and Chris Griggs then reached on a walk and an error (the only such occurrences allowed by the Falcons on the day) to start the sixth -- only to watch Hughes mow down the next three batters, inducing a harmless pop out sandwiched between two strikeouts.

"We know what we're going to get from Jonathan in every start," Falcons coach Scot Myers said. "He stays in the zone and attacks the hitter... He pitched at Dacula for his first start last Saturday (a 3-2 Falcons win) and was OK by his standards -- I equate a lot of that to the weather -- but he improved today. And he's only going to get better as he goes."

Hughes also proved clutch at the plate, driving in Andrew Nolt for the game's first run. The senior received plenty of support during the win, including a two-run single from Stephen Skeggs that put the Falcons (4-1) in command with a 4-0 lead in the third inning.

"It's always good when you've got your defense behind you and you've got run support," Hughes said. "I think our team is gelling and knocking the cobwebs off; I think this will spark us to bigger things."

"It's tough right now; I've been in coaching 16 years and have never seen it this bad (so many game postponements)," Myers said. "We've just got to stay sharp and be ready when the region season starts (March 16)."

Both lineups looked sharp at the outset, each recording two hits in the first inning -- the difference being the Falcons turned their two hits into runs. Nolt led off with a single and came home on Hughes' drive to left field. A Jackson County error then allowed Cooper Harrison (courtesy running for Hughes) to score on Skeggs' drive to centerfield (high fly balls into the outfield proved a tough handle all day thanks to a bright and direct sun).

"A couple of errors hurt them, but we were able to capitalize on those situations and put pressure on them," Myers said.

After Skeggs plated Marq Kilcoyne and Cooper (again running for Hughes) to make it 4-0 in the third -- chasing Panthers starter Coleman Barbee in the process -- the Falcons capped their scoring on heads-up base running in the fourth. Cory Riley walked to open the inning, stole second base, moved to third on a sac fly from Kilcoyne and then sprinted home after the Panthers attempted to gun down Nolt at second base.

The Panthers (4-2) pulled a run back in the fifth when Vickers, who finished the game 2 for 3, plated Wilson and looked set to press the issue in the sixth, putting two runners on base with no outs -- but Hughes doused Jackson's budding momentum, and Jackson Harrell threw more cold water on the Panthers with a 1-2-3 seventh-inning relief appearance, inducing two ground outs and striking out one batter.

"This was a great experience (playing at Coolray Field)," Myers said. "I think some of the guys were taking selfies in the dugout and talking about, 'this was where J-Hey (current Major League Baseball player Jason Heyward) sat.' This was a great opportunity, and we were glad to be here."

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/3/285992